The Durbin's of St. Elmo, Illinois

07/30/2025

This year we will be in pavilion 1. This is the pavilion next to where we are every year. If we want to move tables to the area we normally are at then we have to move them, otherwise we can use the pavilion. Hope to see you all Sunday August 3, 2025. Potluck at noon.

07/19/2025

93RD ANNUAL DURBIN REUNION IS AUGUST 3, 2025 AT SHELBYVILLE FOREST PARK. POTLUCK AT NOON. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

01/03/2025

Our sympathy to Mary's husband Keith, their children, her sisters Ethel Moody and Betty Springman.

Share memories & support the family

07/23/2024

The 92nd Durbin Family Reunion is August 4, 2024. Potluck at NOON. . Forest Park in Shelbyville, IL. Sorry the event said 12 am.

05/09/2024

Prayers for the Kenneth Kessler family.

Kenneth E. Kessler, 80, of Stewardson, Illinois, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2024, at home. He was born May 29th, 1943, to Oscar and Melva Kessler. He married Marilyn A. Durbin on June 16, 1963. They were married for 60 years.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church, Stewardson, IL. Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday in the church. Burial will be in Stewardson Cemetery. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL.
Kenneth graduated from Stewardson Strasburg High School in 1961. Kenneth was a life-long farmer since he was a small child. He was in the dairy business for over 60 years. As a young man, he worked side by side with his father, Oscar, until his son, Kevin, was old enough to drive a tractor and milk cows. Then history repeated itself with father and son working together after his father retired. He planned on being on the tractor or combine until his death because he always said that was his happy place. His only hobby in life was working at the farm.
In loving memory of Kenneth, memorials may be made to United Methodist Church where Kenneth was a life-time member and he ushered for many years or to the Stewardson Cemetery Fund or COWS.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Kendra (Steve) Gallagher; son, Kevin (Susan) Kessler; grandchildren, Cody (Jackie) Gallagher, Brock Gallagher, Lara (Andrew) Bauer, Katlyn (Nathan) Doty, Karsyn Kessler, Casey (Johnny) Tripiano, and Karley (Alex) Frohning; great granddaughters, Genny and Gianna Gallagher, Laikyn Bauer, baby Doty anytime, and great grandson, Nolan Frohning. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Fred (Pauline) Durbin, Dave (Clara Ann) Durbin and Laverne Apke; and sisters-in-law, Frieda Juhnke; Deanna Durbin; Patty (Mike) Reed, and Mary Durbin.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Oscar and Melva Kessler; brothers, Edwin (Bertha) Kessler, and Keith (Lois) Kessler; sisters, Delores Kessler, Betty (Gene) Ohnesorge and Bonnie Apke; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lewis and Berneice Durbin; and brothers-in-law, Lloyd Durbin, Guy Juhnke, and Gary Durbin.
Send condolences at www.howeandyockey.com

05/01/2024

On April 21, 2024 Betty Springman and I (Sherri Flach) met Lisa (Durbin) Carlson at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church & Cemetery.
Betty is the Great Granddaughter of Morris & Rachel Durbin,
I am a Great Great Granddaughter of Morris & Rachel Durbin,
Lisa is a Great Great Great Granddaughter of Morris & his first wife Hannah Honora Dial.
L to R: Betty (Durbin) Springman, Lisa (Durbin) Carlson & Sherri (Durbin) Flach.

04/01/2024

7:11 AM
Lisa Durbin Carlson
Hello. My name is Lisa Durbin Carlson. I am the daughter of Kent E. Durbin, the son of Paul E. Durbin, the son of Marion F Durbin, the son of Benjamin Durbin, who was the son of Morris Durbin. Morris had 14 children.

I would love to connect with the group and learn more about my heritage. I plan to come to St. Elmo in April and locate my descendants buried there.

Would anyone be interested in meeting me & my husband somewhere like Joe's pizza in Altamonte or another restaurant? Lisa

If anyone can meet with Lisa on the 14th or the 21st of April please let her know.

08/06/2023

August 6, 2023 91st Durbin Reunion was held today at Forest Park in Shelbyville, IL. We had 84 in attendance! Prayer was led by Audrey Durbin, daughter of Wesley & Sara Durbin. As usual we had an abundance of food and desserts which were all very good! No Old Business. New Business: we had 2 anniversaries today, Steve and Kathy Durbin married 28 years and Wesley & Sara Durbin 18 years. Congratulations to all of you! We had a vote for President and Wesley Durbin won again this year. A vote for Secretary/Treasurer was held and Sherri Flach won again also.
Our award winners were:
Oldest Man....Tom Parks, 88 years old
Oldest Lady...Florence Durbin, 88 years old.
Youngest...Kensley Seibert 4 months old, daughter of Jordyn and Johney Seibert.
Ugliest...Mark Seibert
Pretty Boy...Mark Kilzer
Farthest Traveled...Derek L. Durbin...over 700 miles from Louisiana
Longest Marriage...Bill and Betty Springman, 61 years
Newlyweds...Jake & Mackenize Pirtle, 9 months
We have so much fun with the awards! Thank you to everyone who participated.
Thank you Kayla Fletcher for taking photos of our winners!
Thank you Tiffany Durbin for personalizing the awards.
Thank you to Glenda Durbin for reserving the area.
Thank you to Jason & Katie Durbin, Ryan & Kristy May for setting the tables up and lining them with paper.
Thank you to Glen Durbin, Jeff & Cindy Wible for cleaning up after the reunion.
We appreciate everyone attending today, it went too quickly as everyone was packing up shortly after the meeting due to rain.
I know alot of you read this page, and I thank you!
If there is something different you would like to happen besides the award ceremony, please message me.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING APART OF THE DURBIN REUNION!
Expecting to see you all next year!! God Bless Everyone!

08/03/2023

91st DURBIN FAMILY REUNION, August 6, 2023, NOON, Forest Park, Shelbyville, IL.

07/24/2023

91st Durbin Family Reunion - August 6, 2023 -Noon -Forest Park, Shelbyville, Il.. Hope to see you all there!

08/07/2022

August 7, 2022 Today was the 90th annual Durbin Family Reunion! It was 93 degrees, sunny with a southerly breeze. Actually had 77 in attendance,, ( one forgot to sign the book.) Fred Durbin was awarded the outstanding attendance for over 80 years ( he is 84 years old so he may have missed one or two in his early years). The longest married couple were Bill & Betty Springman for 60 1/2 years!! Our newlyweds were Brandon & Shyann (Schultz) Evans, they were married Dec. 18, 2021. The youngest person in attendance was Asher Durbin (15 months old). Oldest and honored lady was Florence Durbin, Oldest man was Tom Parks. Farthest Traveled went to Derek & Declan Durbin (700 + miles). And our special awards (these are done in fun, not intended to be offensive), there were 5 contestants the winners were: Pretty Boy/Man went to Bill Springman and Ugliest was Gary Flora. We appreciate all of the contestants for being good sports!!. We have so much fun visiting and sharing stories! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING TODAY! God willing we will see you all next year!!!

07/27/2022

90TH DURBIN REUNION IS AUGUST 7, 2022.